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'Namaste India', will address your concerns: Chinese PM

New Delhi, Apr 2, 2013 (PTI)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang today said India and China have the "wisdom" to find solutions to problems including boundary row and assured to address India's concern on crucial issues pertaining to rivers and trade imbalance.

Li, who was very candid in his address to Indian businessmen here, stressed on the need to work as regional and global partners and quoted a Chinese proverb - a distant relative may not be useful as a near neighbour - to emphasise on the relations between the two countries.

Asserting that there are far more common interests than differences, he said India and China have the "wisdom" to find mutually acceptable solution to the boundary problem, which the two sides have not shied away from addressing.

He said he was "satisfied" with the "candid, frank and fruitful" talks he held with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the last two days and other Indian leaders during which both sides were able to put "all issues on the table".

Underlining that India and China are "natural partners", Li said, "We should see each other's development as major opportunities for ourselves and we have far more common interests than differences....

"China and India are strategic partners. The most important outcomes of these meetings we had was that we have expanded our strategic mutual trust and reached a number of new positive outcomes."

Addressing Indian businessmen, Li sought a handshake between the two countries over the Himalayas. Li started his address with "Namaste" and recalled memories of his trip to India 27 years back as a youth leader.

"Ideally, when China and India speak with one voice, the world will and must listen," he said.

Speaking about the border issue, Li said, "We have not shied away from this question but have agreed to push forward negotiation. The two sides share the view that China and India have the wisdom to find a fair and mutually acceptable solution".

Li added that pending a final solution, the two sides "should improve relevant mechanism for dealing with border affairs including efficiency, properly manage...and jointly maintain peace and tranquility in border areas. This serves the shared interests of two countries".